FAQ

Q: What if we already have a tape backup system?
Using a tape backup system and a remote backup system offers the best of both worlds. Critical files, like billing, customer contact files and databases can be kept on the remote backup system. The tape system can be used to create a full backup of the entire system. The remote backup system can provide a quick and easy way to retrieve critical files and databases without the hassle of searching through tapes. We never recommend that you stop your current tape-based backups, simply add the remote backups as an extra safeguard.

Q: How long will a remote backup take?
Offices with high-speed internet connections should find this service comparable with tape drives. The initial backup can take considerable time in some cases. We recommend backing up the most important files first and then selecting other files as the backup progresses. Or, the initial backup can be run over the weekend. Also, we can come to your office and make the initial backup of your system.

Q: Onsite, Offsite - What's The Difference?
Basically, remote backups work like regular tape backups, with one important difference. Instead of sending backups to a tape drive or other media attached to the computer being backed up, a remote backup sends encrypted file data over the internet to our servers’ computer file storage system safely off-site.This usually happens at night while your business is closed and nobody is using the computers. It's completely automatic. In fact, you may forget it's working every night.

Q: Why Are Remote Backups Considered More Beneficial?
The data is immediately stored off-site using an automated backup system. Only an internet connection is needed. This backup doesn’t use removable tapes/drives you may forget to take out of the office. And, since the system is automated, manual labor is eliminated.

Q: How Secure Are Remote Backups?
Very. All files are encrypted using either Blowfish or DES encryption. The user selects their personal encryption code and their encryption type. Only the user knows the encryption code, and it is not stored on the server nor the client’s computer. As for the encryption types, Blowfish encryption has never been broken, while DES is used by the federal banking system.

Q: What is encryption?
Encryption is basically a mathematical formula that scrambles a data file. The only way to unscramble it is with the encryption code. Our remote backups are encrypted before they are sent to the remote server to ensure data protection.

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